Abstract
Environmental health issues are becoming more challenging, and addressing them requires new approaches to research design and decision-making processes. Participatory research approaches, in which researchers and communities are involved in all aspects of a research study, can improve study outcomes and foster greater data accessibility and utility as well as increase public transparency. Here we review varied concepts of participatory research, describe how it complements and overlaps with community engagement and environmental justice, examine its intersection with emerging environmental sensor technologies, and discuss the strengths and limitations of participatory research. Although participatory research includes methodological challenges, such as biases in data collection and data quality, it has been found to increase the relevance of research questions, result in better knowledge production, and impact health policies. Improved research partnerships among government agencies, academia, and communities can increase scientific rigor, build community capacity, and produce sustainable outcomes.
Highlights
Participatory research approaches, in which researchers and communities are involved in all aspects of a research study, can improve study outcomes and foster greater data accessibility and utility as well as increase public transparency
The involvement of citizen scientists and communities in environmental health research has increased rapidly in the past decade, along with the emergence of environmental monitoring technologies, the utilization of mobile devices to collect data, and the growth of online data sharing
Citizens1 have become increasingly involved in research owing to multiple factors, including the improved accuracy and reduced cost of environmental sensors, an increased emphasis on and realization of the benefits of community participation, and the tightening of research budgets, which in some instances may necessitate the involvement of the public,2 especially when collecting large volumes of data
Summary
From Crowdsourcing to Extreme Citizen Science: Participatory Research for Environmental Health. See credit lines of images or other third-party material in this article for license information. Citizen science, community-engaged research, environmental sensors, crowdsourcing, health policy
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
